Buddhist Legends Vol. II

Book VI. The Wise Man, Paṇḍita Vagga - 183
the direction of the rays, approached the Teacher; and penetrating the circle of
the Buddha’s rays as one might plunge into a sea of vermilion, he paid
obeisance to the Teacher and with his [29.173] retinue of a thousand courtiers
seated himself respectfully on one side.
The Teacher preached the Law in orderly sequence, and at the conclusion of
his discourse the king and his company of courtiers were established in the
Fruit of Conversion, whereupon all of them arose with one accord and
requested to be admitted to the Order. The Teacher considered within himself,
“Will these noblemen receive bowls and robes created by magic?” and became
aware of the following, “These noblemen gave a thousand robes to a thousand
Private Buddhas, and in the dispensation of the Buddha Kassapa also gave
twenty thousand robes to twenty thousand monks; it is not wonderful that they
should receive bowls and robes created by magic.” Therefore he extended his
right hand and said, {2.122} “Come, monks, take up the religious life, that you
may utterly extinguish suffering.” Straightway they were provided with the
eight monastic requisites, becoming as it were Elders a century old, and first
soaring into the air, they returned to earth, paid obeisance to the Teacher, and
sat down.
The traders went to the royal palace, announced that they had been sent by the
king, and upon being invited to enter by the queen, entered, made obeisance,
and stood respectfully on one side. The queen asked them, “Sirs, on what
errand have you come?” “Your majesty, we were sent to you by the king, who
gave us three hundred thousand pieces of money.” “Sirs, it is a large sum of
money you mention; what did you do for the king that pleased him so greatly
that he gave you that amount of money?” “Nothing much, your majesty; all we
did was to bring the king a certain piece of news.” “Are you permitted to tell
me also what it was?” “Yes, your majesty.” “Well then, sirs, tell me.” “Your
majesty, ‘The Buddha has appeared in the world.’ ”
When the queen heard this, she was affected precisely as the king had been;
her body was suffused with joy, and three times she failed to grasp the meaning
of what she heard. When she heard the word “Buddha” the fourth time, she
inquired, “What did the king give you when he heard this word?” “A hundred
thousand pieces of money, your majesty.” “Sirs, the king did not reward you
suitably when he gave you only a hundred thousand pieces of money for
bringing him such a message; it is a poor present I give you in presenting you
with three hundred thousand pieces of money. Did you bring the king any
other message?” {2.123} “Such and such,” said they, repeating the two other